Draft-gear



G. M. SCHWEND.

DRAFTGEAR. APPLICATION FILED MAY 5. 1920.

1,363,360. Paten td Dec. 28,1920.

INVENTOR A TTOR/VEYS UNITED STATES AT N OFFICE.

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DRAFT-GEAR Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 28; 1920.

Application filed ilay 8, 1920. Serial N0. 379,347.

' character and so arranged as to prevent jerking of the cars in starting and 'in stoping.

In the drawings: v Figure 1 is a plan view of the improvement with the cylinders in section;

Fig. 2 is an end view. In the present embodiment of the invention the draw bar 1 of the locomotive,which is of any usual construction, so far as its coupling features are concerned, is mounted to slide through a plate orhousing 2, suitably supported by the locomotive, and the inner end of the draw bar 1 is connected to a cross head 3. To each end of this cross head there is connected a piston rod 4, and

these rods extend into cylinders 5 which are connected with the housin 2.

The head 6 of each cyllnder adjacent to the cross head 3 has a packing nut 7 through which the adjacent piston rod slides, and a piston or plunger 8 is connected with the rod inside the cylinder. Each cylinder has a port at its inner end in the form of a nipple 9 which is'threaded into an opening 1n the head 6, and these ports are restricted,

as shown, so that the passage of the air at the said end of the cylinder is restricted.

Each cylinder 5 is provided at its outer end, that is, near the end adjacent to the housing 2, with an internally threaded nipple 10, and apipe section 11 is threaded into each nipple. Pipes 112 are connected with the pipe sections 11, and extend inwardly,

substantially parallel with the piston rods 4, .to a point beyond the cross head 3 when the parts are in normalposition, and these pi es 12 are connected by a cross pipe 13. he pipe 13 is connected by a pipe 14 with the main drum or reservoir on engine.

The operation of the device is as follows: When the locomotive is coupled to the,

' train, and is standin idle, the arts will ochen the 1000-.

cupy the position of 4 ig. 1. motive starts, the draw bar 1 will be drawn out, the cross head 3 moving toward the cylinders, as indicated in dotted lines, and the pistons or plungers 8 will be moved t0- ward the housing plate 2, as also indicated in dotted lines. The air in theouter ends of the cylinders will be compressed in cylinders due to check valve in pipe 14 being seated and the movement of the locomotive will be cushioned, so that there will be no jar of the train of cars. The resistance of i the air cushion in the cylinders will gradually check the movement of the draw bar, and the train will. be started easily and smoothly. As soon as the engine is in motion and the train started the pressure will flow from the main reservoir to the cylinders 5, and will gradually force the plan gers 8 back to the normal position shown,

the position being, however, determined by the amount of pull on the draw bar. The draw bar is responsive to the pull of the train and the pistons will occupy a dposition determined by the resistance ofiere by the pressure in the main reservoir and the pull of the train.

As the cylinders 8 move toward the plate 2, air passes in through the restricted ports 9 to fill the space between the head 6 and the plungers. When the train comes to a stop this air forms a cushion which will cushion the inward movement of the pistons, so that there will be no jar in stopping. The movement of the pistons, and as a consequence the movement of the draw bar, in'both directions, will be cushioned.

Pipe 14 supplies air at all times to cylinders 5. The check in pipel is to prevent air flowing outof cyhnders 5 when pressure gets greater than in main reservoir,

due to piston heads compressing air in cyl-.

inders 5 when train is started.

' I claim:

1. A draft gear for locomotives comprising in combination with the draw bar of a cylinder arranged on each side thereo pistons in the cylmders, a cross head at the in-.

ner end of the draw bar, rods connecting the pistons with the cross head,- and means for connecting the outer ends of the cylinders with a main air reservoir, each cylinder havin a restricted port at its inner end.

2. X device of the character specified comprising in combination with the draw bar, of a cylinder on each side thereof and,

connected at its outer end with a main reservoir, each cylinder having a restricted port at its inner end, -and a plunger in each cyl- 10 inder, said plungers being connected with the draw bar. i

f GEORGE MARTEEN SCHWEND. 

